The New Guangzhou New Business Opportunities Promotion Conference was held in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on Sept 2.

The conference was attended by Guangzhou mayor Wan Qingliang and deputy mayor Yue Huafeng, along with some business companies.

At the conference, contracts for 21 projects worth 14.6 billion yuan in investment were signed. Of those projects, 60 percent involved modern service, strategic and emerging industries, advanced manufacturing, and research and development. The projects are the result of cooperation among enterprises, universities and research institutes in Northwest China.

Yue said Xi'an is an energetic city with great culture and innovation. It combined history and fashion perfectly. Rich science and education resources and high-tech industries could also be found in Xi'an. Xi'an was the center of China, as its location is convenient from other big cities in China. Xi'an also has adequate energy.

According to Wan, Guangzhou is famous for business. It has advanced manufacturing strength, especially in the automotive industry and shipbuilding. Guangzhou also has potential in high-tech industries and strategic and emerging industries. Additionally, Guangzhou has incomparable advantages in investment policy, development platform, consumer market, business environment and goods.

Xi'an and Guangzhou would cooperate in five areas: technological innovation, talent exchange, cultural tourism, high-end industries and financial industry.

Wan expressed his welcome to the universities, research institutes and talents from Xi'an to take part in major innovation projects in Guangzhou. He also asked Xi'an to hold some cultural activities, such as shows, exhibitions, and academic studies. Wan encouraged enterprises in Xi'an to take part in financial innovation in Guangzhou.

Finally, Wan hoped the two cities could establish property rights trading market through the establishment of various types of equity funds in Guangzhou by Xi'an enterprises.

An activity to promote Guangzhou goods was also held on Sept 2.

Xi'an is the third city to hold Guangzhou promotion activities.

Guangzhou, with its theme of New Guangzhou New Business, is holding a series of trade promotion, product exchange, business forum and industrial projects promotion. Guangzhou has already held this kind of promotion in America, South Korea, South Africa, Japan and Russia.